Living with a Long Term Health Condition

GP down south’s ‘Living with a Long Term Health Condition’ program is about teaching people with chronic health conditions to be actively involved in their own health care and to maximise their quality of life. It is about learning to cope with the challenges of living and caring for chronic conditions, learning to establish goals and treatment plans and solving problems along the way.

A long term health condition can include such things as arthritis, asthma, diabetes, heart conditions, pain, bronchitis, strokes, or even cancer.

A number of staff at GP down south have completed the Kate Lorig Chronic Disease Self Management Course Leader training, developed at the Stanford University Patient Education Research Centre and are now facilitating regional courses.

Each program runs for about 2 ½ hours per week, for six weeks. It is free of charge to your patients.

Course topics include:
• Dealing with difficult emotions associated with having a health problem
• Relaxation techniques
• Importance of fitness and exercise
• Symptom management
• Nutrition and diet
• Communication techniques
• Medication
• Working with the health care team
• Planning for the future.

Carers as well as people with long term health problems are invited to attend.

If you have patients you’d like to refer to the program, please call:

Mandurah: ph 9581 3352

Busselton: ph 9754 3662

Australian Better Health Initiative: A joint Australian, State and Territory Government Initiative.
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